Agenda - Council - 01/13/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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RECEIVE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE CLOSURE OF 142 AVENUE BETWEEN TH 47 AND ARGON STREET By: Steven Jankowski, City Engineer Background: CASE # 5 On December 30, 2008 Mr. Gary Greb of 14183 Argon Street presented to staff the attached petition / survey which he circulated in his Flintwood Hills neighborhood. The material presented contains responses submitted by 23 residents residing within thirteen properties located on the 14100 and 14200 blocks of Argon Street. A figure illustrating the location of these residents is attached. The cover letter prepared by Mr. Greb in distributing this survey expresses concern for the proposed closure of 142" Avenue which was recommended by the Public Works Committee on November 18, 2008 and ratified by City Council on the December 9, 2008 Consent Agenda. The survey format allowed respondents to list first and second choices as preferred courses of action as well as other suggestions. A summary of the respondent choices and suggestions are attached to this case. Traffic issues in this neighborhood have been discussed a number of times in recent years beginning in late 2004. In December of 2004 an open house was held to solicit input from the neighborhoods and businesses on both the east and west sides of the TH 47 142 Avenue intersection. At that time MnDot was preparing for a safety improvement project on TH 47 for the 2005 construction season. Comments made at this informational meeting were reviewed and discussed at the Public Works Committee meeting of January 2005. Residents were again notified and participated in this meeting. The majority of the issues presented in attached petition had been addressed at that meeting. These issues include; the signalization of the 142 TH47 intersection; the full closure with a median of the 142 TH47 intersection; the closure of 142" Avenue between TH 47 and Argon Street. The alternate location for the street closure of Argon Street south of 142" Lane and reduction of the speed limit on TH 47 were not discussed. The consensus from the January 2005 meeting was to allow the construction projects scheduled for the area to be completed and allow a reasonable period thereafter for the new traffic patterns to become established prior to making any additional neighborhood traffic modifications. At the September 2008 Public Works Committee meeting staff presented a report on the accident history in the vicinity of the TH 47 /142 Avenue intersection and traffic volumes and traffic pattern changes since the highway projects had been completed. Residents which would be affected by traffic changes considered for the Flintwood / Mallard Ponds neighborhoods were invited to attend the November 18, 2008 Public Works Committee where the closure of 142" Avenue was to be discussed. At this meeting residents expressed support for the closure of 142" —229—